Bobbin cleaner and polisher.



L. HOLT.

BOBBIN CLEANER AND POLISHER.

- I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1913. 1 1 1 0,988,, Patented Sept. 15,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

AUnorneys.

L. HOLT. BOBBIN CLEANER AND POLISHER. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1913.1,1 1 0,988. Patented Sept. E5, 1914.,

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 2..

i L i .lm lw{Film P ESF -4 I J I.

Attorneys i m ===I== Y L. HOLT. BOBBIN CLEANER AND POLISHER.

1,1 10,988, APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1913. Patented Sept.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Inventor,

m o Attorr eys.

To all whom it may concern:

- the bobbin and without cutting the thread.

LAFAYETTE HOLT, OF BURLINGTON, NORTH GABQLINA, ASSIGNOB. OF ONE-HALF TOEUGENE HOLT, OF BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

BOBBIN CLEANER AND POLISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dept. 15, 19914.

Application filed June 3, 1913. Serial No- 771,513.

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE Hour, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buri lington, in the -county of Alamance and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and i useful Bobbin Cleaner and Polisher,of i which the following is a specification. i By way of explanation itmay be'stated E that a quantity of waste thread commonly i accumulatesupon the tapered portion of l the bobbin or quill of a loom, and thisquantity of waste thread must be removed before the bobbin is re-wound.In order to remove this waste thread, a knife hitherto has been runlongitudinally of the bobbin, to sever the thread. This operation isfraught with two disadvantages. First, the thread does not come from thebobbin in a continuous length, but is severed into a plurality of smallpieces having little or no utility. Secondly, the bobbin itself isscratched and slit longitudinally, to the manifest damage thereof.

One. object of the present invention is to provide a device which willremove the waste thread from the bobbin without damaging Another objectof the invention is to provide a device of the type above describedwhich will not only clean the bobbin but will polish the same.

Another object of the invention ,is to provide a device of the ty eabove described which, in operation, wil conform properly to allportions of the tapered part the bobbin.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally an toenhance the util-- ity of, devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription'proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 shows the invention in top plan; Fig. 2 is aside elevation; Fig. 3 is a top plan on an enlarged scale, ofthemechanism whereby the bobbins are stripped; Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transversesection taken through the bobbin-rerecelving magazine; Fig. 6 is atransverse section through the arms which cotiperate to strip the bobbinFig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which thestripping fingers travel along the bobbin; Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe head and the plunger whereby the head is carried; Fig. 9 is afragmental transverse section showing the means whereby the strippingarms are pivotally mounted; Fig. 10 is an end elevation of theplunger-carried head. F 1g. 11 is a perspective of one of the springsup-porting arms; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional detail showing the crosshead in elevation.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a base 1 equipped withtransverse guides 2 receiving for longitudinal movement, a plunger 3. Bymeans of bolts or lag screws at, a cross head 5 is adjustably secured tothe plunger 3. Pitmen 6 at their forward ends are united by pivotelements 7 with the ends of the cross head 5. By means of pivotelements8, the rear ends of the pitnien 6 are connected to gear wheels 9 securedto a shaft 10 journaled for rotation in a bearing 11 on the base 1 anddisposed transversely of the base. The gear wheels 9 are provided with aplurality of openings 12, located at different distances from the axisof the shaft 10, to the end that the throw of the pitmen' 6 may bevaried by mounting the pivot elements 8 in the various openings 12.

The gear wheels 9 mesh into pinions 14 mounted on a shaft 15 journaledfor rotation in bearings 16 on the base 1. The shaft 15 may be equippedwith a pulley 17, or with any other suitable means whereby rotation maybe imparted'to the shaft from a prime mover. The pinions 14 mesh intogear wheels 18, corresponding to the gear wheels 9, to provide for aduplication of the structure hereinbefore and hereinafter described. Y

Fixed t0 and upstanding from the base 1 are studs 19 forming pivotalsupports for arms 20, mounted for radial movement parallel to the base1, the arms 20 being provided with bearings 20 which surround the studs19. At their forward, free ends, the arms 90 terminate in rectangularlydisposed fingers 21 provided with notches 22, of V- shape, (see Fig. 6)the walls of the notches 22 being straight. In the base 1 between thearms 20 there is an opening 23, one end of which is reduced and extendedthrough the end of the base as shown at 23.

As disclosed most clearly in Fig. 3, wedges 24 are applied to the innerfaces of the arms 20, the wedges 24 being provided with shanks 25extending through longitudinal slots 26 in the arms, the shanks 25carrying nuts 27 which, engaging the arms, serve to hold the wedges 24in place, the slots 26 serving to permit an adjustment of the wedges.

The invention includes a head 28 shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 10, thehead being mounted to slide upon the base 1, longitudinally of the base.The head 28 is provided with an opening 34 in which the plunger 3 ismounted to slide, the head being equipped in its sides with slots 32,receiving a pin or projections 31 on the plunger 3, to the end that theplunger 3 may operate the head 28, it being possible, nevertheless, forthe head 28 to have a slight movement upon the plunger 3, longitudinallyof the plunger and independently of the plunger. The head 28, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, is provided with inclined surfaces 29 adapted tocoiiperate with the wedges24. A compression spring 30 surrounds theplunger 3 and abuts at one end against the head 28, the other end of thespring 30 abutting against the forward guide 2. In the top of the head28 there is a channel 33. The head 28 at its forward end is cut away asindicated at 35, so that the'base of the forward portion of the opening34 in which the plunger 3 slides, constitutes a bobbin-receivingshoulder 36 (see Fig. 4). The forward end of the plunger 3 is providedwith a depressed, bobbinreceiving seat'37, as shown in Fig. 4.

Extended transversely of the base 1 is a.

pair of arms 38, one of which is shown in Fig. 11. The arms 38 areequipped with longitudinal slots 39, receiving securing elements 40which enter the base 1 to hold the arms 38 upon the base. The outer endsof the arms 38 terminate in upstanding fingers 41 having openings 42receiving slidably, the outer ends of rods 43. The inner ends of therods 43, as shown in Fig. 3, are provided with transverseheads 44, eachhead being equipped with a tip 45, received in a. re-' cess formed inthe outer face of the arm 20. Compression springs 46 surround the rods43 and abut at one end against the heads 44, the other ends of thesprings 46 abutting against the fingers 41.

A bobbin magazine is supported above the free ends of the arms 20, andthis magazine may include a plate 47, one end of which is upheld by thestuds 19, the plate 47 being held upon the studs bv nuts 48. as will beunderstood best from Fig. 9. The for- Ward end of the plate 47 issupported in any desired manner, as by legs 49 which bear upon and aresecured to the base 1. Attached to the plate 47 is a transverse wall 50,connected with side walls 51, the plate 47 being open between the sidewalls. The side walls 51 and the wall 50 define a magazine for thesuperposed bobbins. A closure for the open forward end of the magazineis provided, the closure being denoted by the numeral 52 and beingpivoted as indicated at 53 to the side walls 51 of the magazine. Theclosure-52'along its edges is provided with fingers 54 which overlap thewalls 51 of the magazine, to prevent transverse movement of the closure.The closure is equipped with lateral extensions 55, and retractilesprings 56 connect the extensions 55 with the transverse wall 50, so asto maintain the closure normally in abutment with the end of themagazine.

In Fig. 7, the bobbin is denoted generally by the numeral 57 andincludes a stepped, tapered head 58 and a shank 59. A plurality ofbobbins 57 are placed in superposed relation within the magazine 5150,the head 58 of the lowermost bobbin being supported by the fingers 21 ofthe arms 20 and the shank 59 of the lowermost bobbin resting in therecess or channel 33 of the head 28.

If the shaft 15 be rotated, movement will be imparted to the gear wheels9 through the medium of the pinions 14. The pitmen 6 will thereupon drawthe cross head 5 rearwardly, the plunger 3 moving rearwardly along withthe cross head. The projections 31 which are carried by the 'plunger'3engage the rear ends of the slots 32 in the head 28, as shown in Fig. 8,and the head 28 will therefore be drawn rearwardly. As the head 28 movesrearwardly, the inclined surfaces 29 of the head 28 engage the wedges 24on the arms 20 and effect a separation of the lingers 21,, the arms 20swinging radially upon their pivotal mountings 20 19. The head 58 of thebobbin 57 will therefore drop between the ends of the fingers 21 andwill be centered by the slot 23 in the base. At the same time, when thehead 28 is retracted, the rear end of the shank 59 of the bobbin 57 willmove out of the recess or channel 33 in the head 28 and drop-upon theshoulder 36, a rearward movement of the bobbin being prevented by themagazine.

So soon as the plunger 3 forwardly, the inclined faces 29 of the head 28will move out of engagement with the wedges 24, the springs 46 causingthe notches 22 in the fingers 20 to engage with the head 58 of thebobbin, as shown in Fig. 7. At the inception of the forward movement ofthe plunger 3, the spring 30 is under compression, and the head 28,therefore, will for a time move forwardly along with the plunger.Ultimately, however, the compressive effort of the spring 30 ceases, andthe head 28 lags starts to move behind the plunger 30 until theprojections 31 on the plunger 3 have arrived at the forward ends of theslots 32 in the head 28. Recalling that the rear end of the shank 59 ofthe bobbin 57 is engaged in the seat 37 which is formed in the endof-the plunger 3, it is obvious that the bobbin will be advanced by theaction of the plunger. When the bobbin is advanced in the manner abovepointed out, the fingers 21 of the arms 20, actuated by the springs 46,serve to strip the waste off the tapered head 58 of the bobbin. Thisoperation will be dealt with in greater detail hereinafter. The plunger3 forces the lowermost bobbin 59 outwardly in a longitudinal direction,between thefingers v 21 and the waste, in the form of a ring, dropsthrough the opening 23 in the base 1. When the plunger 3 is at the limitof its forward stroke, the forward-end of the plunger protrudes slightlybeyond the forward end of the head 28, the ring of waste material beingreceived upon the protruding forward end of the plunger. When therearward movement of the plunger 3 begins, the plunger, for a time,moves independently of the head 28 until the projections 3l-have arrivedat the rear ends of the slots 32 as shown in Fig. 8. The forward end ofthe head 28, therefore, acts as an abutment for the ring of wastematerial, permitting the withdrawal of the forward end of the plunger 3from within the ring of waste material, whereupon the same'will dropthrough the openin 23, in the manner hereinbefore described.

eferring particularly to Fig. 7 it will be observed that the finger 21is beveled upon its forward face as indicated at 60, and to the rear ofthe bevel 60, the finger 21 terminates in a surface 61 which is at rightangles to the direction of extent ofthe finger 21. When, as shown at theright hand end of Fig. 7, the fingers 21 begin to strip the waste oilthe head 58 of the bobbin, the fingers 21 are disposed at an acute angleto the axis of the bobbin, and therefore, the fingers will engageproperly with the waste. By the time that the fingers 21 have traveledonto the shank 59 of the bobbin, as shown at the left hand end of Fig.7, the surfaces 61' of the fingers are parallel to the axis of the shank59 of the bobbin. There is, there fore, no scraping action of thefingers 21 upon the shank of the bobbin at the point indicated, and thebobbin will be polished as the same is thrust between the fingers.

Especial attention is directed to the fact that, as clearly shown infigure 6, the notches 22 in the fingers 21 are in V-shape and comprisestraight edges. Owing to this construction, the notches will conform tothe taper ofvthe head 58, throughout the entire length of the head, in amanner not possible when the notches are of curved form, it be 65 ingobvious that if the notches are curved,

'they cannot conform properly to the head 58 throughout the entirelength of the head. The bobbin, owing to the construction above pointedout, not only is not slit or scratched or cut, but, upon the other hand,is as it is thrust between the fingers.

Especial attention is directed to the movable, spring actuated closure52. If, during the operation of the machine, a bobbin should be advancedbefore it is in proper position, the closure will yield and open,thereby permitting a longitudinal movement of the bobbin and preventinga disorganization of the machine.

The magazine 5150 is an important feature of the invention, since, owingto the provision of the magazine, it is not necessary to feed eachbobbin separately into the path of the plunger 3.

Although the fingers 21 have been shown as integral with the arms 20, itis obvious that the fingers may be in the form of removable dies. Theforegoing change lying within the skill of a mechanic, merits neitherillustration nor extended description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a bobbin magazine; stripping mechanism op-'-erating at the discharge end of the magazine; bobbin advancing meanscooperating with the stripping mechanism; and a movable closure carriedby the magazine, the closure being adapted to open in the direc tion oftravel of the bobbin advancing means. I

2. In a device of the class described, a base; a yieldable strippingmechanism carried by the base; and bobbin advancing means located withinthe contour of the stripping mechanism and operating at times inengagement with the stripping mechanism to open the same, and at timesindependently of the stripping mechanism.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of stripping elementsprovided with straight-Walled notches each defining a plurality ofbobbin engaging contact points; a bobbin engaging element; and means forproducing relative movement between the stripping elements upon the onehand and the bobbin engaging element upon the other hand, to cause thecontact points to trace straight paths longitudinally of the bobbin.

4. In a device of the class described, a base; a pair of strippingelements carried by the base; a bobbin engaging plunger mounted to slidewith respect to the base; a head having a limited movement upon theplunger; interengaging elements upon the head and stripping elements forefiecting a separation of the stripping elements; and resilient meansfor moving the stripping elements toward each other.

5. In a device of the class described, strippolished 70 path of theplunger,

ping mechanism; a bobbin supporting head movable toward and away fromthe stripping mechanism and having a shoulder;'a plunger on which thehead is mounted for limited sliding movement; means for retracting theplunger and the head to cause the bobbin to drop upon the shoulder inthe and for advancing the plunger with respect to the head and towardthe stripping mechanism.

6. Ina device of the class described, a pair of movable strippingmembers; a head movable toward and away from the stri ping members andcooperating with the stripping members in supporting a bobbin, the headhaving a shoulder; a plunger on which the head is mounted for limitedsliding movement; and means for retracting the plunger and the head tocause the bobbin to drop upon the shoulder, in the path of the plungerand between the stripping members, and for advancing the plunger withrespect to the head and with respect to the stripping members.

7. In a device of the class described; a pair of movable strippingmembers; a head movable toward and away from the stripping members andcooperating with the stripping members in supporting a bobbin, the headhaving a shoulder; a plunger on which the head is mounted for limitedsliding movement; and means for retracting the plunger and the head tocause the bobbin to drop upon the shoulder, in the path of the plungerand between the stripping members, and for advancing the plunger withrespect to the head and with respect to the stripping members;interengaging elements upon the head and upon the stripping members forseparating the stripping members; and means for moving the strippingmembers toward each other.

8. In a device of the class described, a plunger structure; a bobbinengaging head having limited movement on the plunger structure; acompression spring interposed between the head and the plungerstructure; yieldably actuated stripping members; and interengagingelements on the head and the stripping members for causing a separationof the stripping members.

9. In a device of the class described, a slidably mounted head; a bobbinengaging plunger movable in the head and adapted to protrude beyond thehead; stripping mechanism adapted to deposit the strippe material uponthe protruding end of the plunger; and means for retracting the plungerin the head to disengage the stripped material from the protruding endof the plunger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAFAYETTE HOLT.

Vitnesses:

SELINA WILLSON, I. E. SIMPSON.

